EDINBURGH, December 4, 2008, 08:12 PM – Telegraph.co.uk has just published a detailed overview of JK Rowling‘s reading session at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, organised to mark the publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. During the questions and answers session with the children, JKR revealed that she actually shares arachnophobia (fear of spiders) with Ron Weasley and Rupert Grint! According to the Telegraph:
She revealed during a tea party to mark the publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard that she had been afraid of spiders since she was a child.
The multi-millionaire author said she gave the same fear to the character Ron Weasley, and then discovered that Rupert Grint, the actor who plays him in the films, was also afraid of spiders.
“I feel sorry for him, because I kept putting Ron in these situations where he had to encounter them,” she added.
Sweet!
Read the article here, and many thanks to Reddiej aka masterofmystery of the SnitchSeeker fame for the heads-up!
UPDATE: In another article, by USA Today, HP producer David Heyman talks a bit more about Half-Blood Prince and Ron’s Quiddich match:
And Ron discovers his newfound Quidditch talents, after thinking he had taken a good-luck potion.
“Ron is scared witless for the game,” says Heyman. ” So, Harry pretends to slip him some felix felices, a liquid luck potion. All of a sudden he’s imbued with fresh confidence, and he’s remarkable in the Quidditch match. He’s performing miracles. With that comes incredible delight and maybe a little bit of cockiness.”
So, this scene looks pretty much canon to me, but let’s wait and see… in eight months. 
Anyway, thanks yweasley for the tip! Read more.
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whats a dream come true being 1st lol.. i didnt know jkr didnt like spiders.. thats why ron is her fav chararcter lol
I know how that feels. I hate bugs, insects, etc.
I just came in from picking up my copy of the book.
Whenever I say the title, I think El Debarge. And then I think of ‘Rhythm of the Night.’
*shrugs*
I’m afraid of spiders too.. hate them!
Lol I’m not sure if I spelled arachnophobia correctly! But yeah, spiders are scary.
I’m afraid of anything that will sting me. Spiders are fine, wasps, hornets, etc . . . not so much. I didn’t JK was afraid of them, that’s interesting.
you did spell it correctly Ivana
and yeah spiders are nasty, poor Rupes
Oh, I would hear Rupert screaming all the time if he would be my neighbor!
Yep, we have lot of spiders here, well not only them, but birds too!
So, there´s quite a balance.
Why doesn´t Rupert try hypnosis or a good therapy?
NewCarmen, as for your question in the previous thread… don’t worry honey, the book will reach the Grints safely and securely! if you are interested in details, PM me at forum, I can’t explain here.
Gah the golf and WT pic are at the top of the site!! *stares*
lalalalalal.. dreams of rupert lalalalala
With you AJ. I don’t like insects in general but spiders are the worst for me. Big or little I hate them. I do think it’s ironic the writter of Ron fears spiders and the actor who plays Ron fears spiders. That’s kizmit. *is that how it’s spelled?*
I think it’s spelled kismet.
But yeah, very interesting information. Obviously Ron is a character that is close to JKR’s heart, and by extension, so is Rupert. I love how she gave him that shout-out in HBP.
OMG so did I! I LOVED that, when i was reading I actually stared at it like: wait a minute…Rupert! knowing J.K. that can’t be a coincidence! Notice Dan or Emma were never given a shout out like that (not to bash, I’m just saying…;) )
Lilly, I think he actually has had some therapy. I would guess systematic desensitization –in the Moviephone interview he reported have to go get rid of a spider on set in the Room of Requirement. This is much different behavior than Dan’s description of him standing on a chair screaming during CoS filming. I think he still has a fear, it’s just not debilitating any more.
It’s true Wicked and Jessica! And in DH Epilogue Ron does what… passes his driving test! If that’s not a clear hommage to Rupert (who failed his driving test around that time) AND Driving Lessons, I don’t know what is!
JKR is one of us!
WickedJo, she also pid homage to Dan in HBP by naming one of the Gryffindor Quidditch players Demelza — which is the name of Dan’s favorite charity.
Stopping in for a sec, using mcd’s wifi!
I’m scared of anything with more than 6 legs. Spiders freak me out. I have this crazy fear that when I put my shoe on that there will be a spider in there so I have to check all the time. This started the ‘peep war’ in my family. When I was like 8 my mom put a marshmallow peep in my shoe cuz she knew about my fear of a spider in my shoe! 20 years later me, my mom, and all my siblings put marshmallow peeps in random places all year round. Sorry about the random off topic comment!
I saw a redhead here in McDonalds earlier, HOT AS HELL! His face looked a lot like Rupert, but he was REALLY TALL and had freckles and his hair was the reddest I’ve ever seen natural hair. I wanted to take him home and keep him, but i already have a pet ginger at home
Plus I think he was only like 16 or 17. I’m such a bad bad old lady!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah, AND she made him get naked twice in DH —I’m sure with a smirk toward his work in Equus
Ivana what’s your name in the forum?
My forum name is… guess what… Ivana!!! Not very original I know…